Heavy rains have ravaged the country's North Island, with a minister comparing it to a "war zone".

Record-breaking rains spark landslide at Mount Maunganui campsite, with helicopter teams retrieving families from rooftops and local states of emergency declared

Several people were missing after heavy rains caused flooding and landslides across New Zealand's North Island.

Number of people unaccounted for is in the ‘single figures’, police say